Chapter Fourteen #3
All three men’s eyes on Walker, Ben prompted, “Walker?”
“You have my permission, but you better not ever hurt her.”
Ben grinned. “Deal. Now let’s hope she says yes.”
Later that afternoon, Walker went outside with Andrew, standing near where his friend had parked. “You’re driving a minivan?”
“It was the better option for us driving home.” Andrew grinned. “And if you knew how much easier it was to get little Ruby in and out of her car seat, you’d have one for hauling Zoie.”
“Maybe,” Walker conceded.
He hadn’t had a problem with his SUV, though, so wouldn’t be in the minivan market anytime soon.
“But I still have my truck, and this is Morgan’s. She’s spending the day with Claudia, preparing things for Christmas morning. Also, while I’m thinking about it, Grandma asked me to invite you and family over for Christmas Eve dinner following the singing at church.”
“That was nice of Ruby, but I don’t want to intrude on your family time.”
“Ha. Surely, you’ve already figured out that once the Butterflies accept you, you’re family too.”
“They’re pretty special.”
Andrew’s brow arched. “Even if they’re meddling?”
He harrumphed. “I did say that didn’t I?”
“Hey. I’ve been there. Most of us have. They have a way of being in the right place at the right time. Or maybe that’s the wrong place at the wrong time” Andrew looked thoughtful. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out better for you with Maggie.”
Not wanting to get into another conversation about Maggie, Walker shrugged.
“They worked out how they were always going to.” With Maggie leaving.
The circumstances had been different than he’d expected, but she’d always planned to go.
“We were never meant to be something that lasted. I forgot that for a little while, but she never did. It’s over now. ”
“That surprises me, because my grandma said what a shame it was that you were upset with Maggie when it was so obvious that she was in love with you. She said you were in love with her too. I’ve never known her to be wrong.
” Andrew gave him a pointed look. “I guess there’s a first time for everything. ”
Walker’s breath caught, but then he shook his head. “Apparently so, because I’m not in love with Maggie and she sure isn’t in love with me.”
*
“It was great of you to help the Harveys through Christmas.”
Nodding, Maggie took a bite of one of Sarah’s Christmas cookies. “These are actually why I came back.”
Smiling, Sarah leaned against the kitchen island. “Neither the Harveys nor my cookies would have been my top guess.”
Maggie winced. “Yeah, let’s not talk about your top guess anymore, okay?”
Sarah’s eyes filled with concern. “You’ve still not seen him since the talent contest?”
Maggie shook her head. “He doesn’t want to see me.”
“Regardless of your reasons, you left with your ex, Maggie. Surely, you can see how that would throw up some defensive walls for Walker?”
Maggie closed her eyes. “Yeah, I can see how it might. Lukas sent William to come get me because he wanted to test William’s loyalty on how much he was willing to risk, to help clear my name, and because I’d told Lukas that I wanted my old life back.”
“Do you want your old life back?” Sarah asked, taking a cookie from the plate, too.
Maggie shrugged. “I learned a long time ago that what I want and what my reality is are rarely the same thing. The only time they overlapped ended in the worst disaster of my life. I should be grateful that Walker doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“You’re still leaving for DC tomorrow afternoon?”
“I am.” She wasn’t sure what Lukas would have her doing but she was officially on his payroll. Maybe her reversal would happen, and she really could pilot for him.
“I know you’re not starting at iSecure’s office until the new year. Why don’t you stay until then?” Sarah offered, giving Maggie a pleading look.
Maggie shook her head. “No, that Bed for Vets room needs to be used for someone who needs it.”
“You no longer do?”
“I feel guilty that I’m still here on Christmas Eve, Sarah. If the Harveys hadn’t needed me to work this morning until they closed at noon, I would have already left. I plan to drive to Louisville first thing in the morning. I shouldn’t be intruding on your family on Christmas morning.”
“You’re not an intrusion. I’m glad you’re here to go with me to the church singing tonight.” Sarah gave her a hug. “I’m going to miss you being here, Maggie.”
Feeling the realness of Sarah’s emotion, of her hug, Maggie’s eyes prickled, and she hugged her friend back.
Straightening and wanting to regain her composure, Maggie picked up another cookie and held it up. “I’m going to miss you, too.”
She was going to miss a lot of things in Pine Hill.
*
Maggie had felt Walker’s presence the moment she’d arrived at the church. There had been no need to glance toward the back pew as she’d passed. She’d known he was sitting there.
She’d gone to the front, sat down next to Sarah, helped keep Jeannie entertained during the singing, and been totally caught off guard when Sarah’s dad asked everyone to remain seated at the end of the service.
Standing, Sarah picked up Jeannie, then handed her to Maybelle who was sitting in the row behind them.
Then Sarah joined Sophie at the front of the auditorium.
“Most of you know that Sophie and I are involved with an organization that we believe in with all of our hearts, the Quilts of Valor Foundation. It has been our honor to present many quilts of healing and comfort over the years. Tonight, we’d like to present one to a special veteran who has won our hearts over the past couple of months. ”
Maggie’s face heated. Surely Sarah wasn’t—
“Maggie, come up here, please.” Sarah gave her a look that had Maggie to her feet and next to Sarah. “Chief Warrant Officer Margaret Majors, may I wrap you with this quilt of comfort and healing made especially for you by our local Quilts of Valor group?”
Eyeing the beautiful red, white, and blue quilt, Maggie recognized the fabric that Sarah had bought on the day they’d stopped by Sophie’s shop and Walker had dropped by to return his prince costume. “What have you done?” she whispered, nodding and gulping back the tears springing to her eyes.
“Welcome home, Maggie.” Sarah and Sophie wrapped the quilt around her shoulders. “We are so thankful for your service and sacrifices that help provide our freedom.”
Maggie gave in to her tears, hugging Sarah and Sophie. Yeah, Pine Hill was home. Because home was where the heart was. Her gaze went to the back of the church and a crack formed in her chest.
The pew where Walker and Zoie had been was empty.
Maggie bit into her lower lip to hold back another round of tears. In that moment, realization struck. A recognition so undeniable that she admitted the truth to herself.
For so long, she’d wanted her old life back. Now, the past didn’t matter. Whether or not she was cleared didn’t matter. It never had, to Walker. He’d seen her for who she was inside and had been worried about her more than any specific events from her past.
Maggie couldn’t leave Pine Hill. Not when it meant leaving Walker and Zoie. Somehow, she’d convince him that she was worth giving a second chance, and that this time, she wouldn’t have one foot out the door.
Foot.
In that moment, she knew exactly what she had to do.
*
Christmas morning arrived. Having been invited to share breakfast with them, Ben had shown up bright and early with presents for Walker, Amy, and Zoie.
Walker had put a breakfast casserole in the oven, and they’d eaten, laughing at the mess Zoie made, then had moved to the living area to open presents.
“Open yours last,” Ben told Amy.
His friend had given Walker a new grilling set and had gotten Zoie an adorable outfit.
“Now my turn,” Amy said, excitingly opening the jewelry sized gift box. But rather than the engagement ring that Walker knew was coming, Ben had given Amy a key pendant on a chain. “Oh, a necklace.” She threw her arms around Ben’s neck. “Thank you. I love it.”
Amy had covered fairly well, but Walker doubted Ben missed that moment of disappointment when she’d seen the necklace. Crazy with the short time they’d been dating, but his sister had thought the jeweler’s box was a ring.
“You know what it is, right?” Ben asked her and when Amy’s eyes filled with uncertainty, he continued. “That’s the key to my heart because it’s yours.”
Walker pulled out his phone so he could record what was about to take place.
Amy hugged the necklace to her. “I love you too, Ben.”
“Good because that makes what I’m about to do a little less nerve-wracking.” Ben glanced toward Walker to make sure he was recording.
Walker gave a thumbs-up.
Ben took Amy’s hand, then knelt on one knee. “Will you marry me, Amy?”
“Yes!”
They hugged, kissed, then hugged again. Realizing he’d forgotten something, Ben reached into his pocket and pulled out another jeweler’s box. “This is for you.”
Ben put the ring on Amy’s finger, then lifted her hand to kiss it. “Perfect.”
Walker recorded a little longer, then clicked off his camera. At this point, he just felt as if he and Zoie were in the way. “Come on, Zo. Let’s give these two a moment while I go change your diaper.”
He didn’t know if she needed a diaper change, but it was as good an excuse as any to step away.
Once out of the room and into Zoie’s, Walker rolled his forehead against the wall in frustration.
How could he be so happy for Amy and Ben and miserable at the same time at being confronted with what was missing in his own life?
Because for all his mumbo-jumbo about being better off on his own, with just him and Zoie, and someday enjoying being alone, Walker didn’t buy it.
Because Maggie had gotten under his skin.
“What do you think, Zo? Has your daddy lost his mind?” His daughter stared up at him with her big eyes. “Or just his foolish heart?”
*